"Gulululu~"
Theta stared at the Fourth Prince. In his high-heeled shoes, with a humanoid face and a grotesque beastly expression, the Nen Beast loomed close—its mouth bubbling with grotesque noises, its muzzle nearly brushing Theta's nose.
Though her face remained calm, cold sweat drenched Theta's back.
"Yo, the ace is here~"
The Fourth Prince, Tserriednich, smiled as he clasped Theta's hand. His Nen Beast was invisible to most, but his grin alone sent a chill down Theta's spine.
"Did you all hear that emergency alert just now? No one behind me seems to know what a Nen Beast is. But you… do you?"
Before Theta could respond, the man-faced horse Nen Beast in front of him opened its grotesque mouth. Its tongue slithered out—a tongue that bore the face of a woman with flat hair. From her mouth, two fleshy, tubular tongues protruded. And at the end of each, a bloodshot eyeball stared back at Theta.
The sheer horror was revolting.
This is the pinnacle of depravity…
(Ugh, even describing this makes my stomach churn. I saw this panel in the manga twice and almost puked. Togashi's imagination and grotesque creativity are truly something else…)
"I was too naïve..."
Theta's pupils quivered as she watched the abominable transformation unfold.
The Fourth Prince, Tserriednich… this twisted maniac must never be allowed to master Nen—under any circumstances!
Resolved, Theta straightened his posture and calmly replied:
"Yes… it refers to special abilities."
"Oh? I knew you were reliable, little Theta~" Tserriednich's smile curled slightly as he leaned in closer. "Could it be… you already use that power?"
"I... Yes. I can."
Theta's expression didn't falter, but inwardly, her resolve hardened.
No matter what, this man must never gain control of Nen.
Tserriednich chuckled and slowly rose from the sofa.
...
Elsewhere, in Third Prince Zhang Lei's quarters—
"The Fourteenth Prince's guards turned on each other? And one was critically injured?!"
Zhang Lei's forehead glistened. Six incense-burned scars marked his brow, flanked by round, ornamented Buddha-like ears. He looked like a high monk—composed, but intense.
He had only just returned from the royal banquet when the report arrived.
"Yes, Your Highness," the guard replied. "The information came from the medical wing. It's been confirmed."
"Tch. Someone targeted the youngest prince right from the start…"
Zhang Lei clicked his tongue, a flash of disdain in his eyes. But his brow furrowed soon after.
"How could someone manipulate guards to attack each other? Could it be some ability that might also affect my own men—or even aim to assassinate me?"
Suspicion crept in. He rubbed his chin and gave a sidelong glance at the guards flanking him.
"Did anyone record anything about 'it' in the emergency call just now?"
One of the guards perked up.
"Nen Beast? What does that mean? Does anyone know?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," another guard said with a strained voice. "I confirmed with everyone on our team. None of us have heard of that term before."
"But it might explain the sudden violence among the Fourteenth Prince's guards."
...
It had become clear: in the Kakin Empire, apart from the King himself, only the First and Second Princes had properly trained in Nen.
The Sixth Prince Tyson and a few others had Nen users among their guards. But those like the Third Prince Zhang Lei and Fourth Prince Tserriednich relied entirely on their original security detail—most of whom either had no Nen training or were barely acquainted with it.
For a nation as powerful as Kakin, with military and economic strength rivaling the world's superpowers, this lack of Nen among its heirs was unthinkable.
But in Kakin, where princes were raised as living vessels in the Egg-in-Pot ceremony to nurture Guardian Spirits, perhaps there was a hidden reason why they were kept ignorant of Nen—some dark secret, buried deep.
...
Back at the banquet hall—where music and laughter still echoed—Second Prince Camilla approached the King with measured grace.
"Father, Camilla has something she wishes to confirm~"
Dressed in regal finery, tall and elegant, Camilla exuded noble dignity. Her every step was deliberate, her every move calculated.
"Because the word survive can have many interpretations—and the term outsider is so vague…"
A gentle smile curled across her lips, disarming and elegant. But the weight of her words sent a chill into the hearts of those nearby.
"I was wondering if eliminations not caused by actual death—like fake deaths or desertion—could be considered invalid for the purpose of succession."
What she was really asking, of course, was: If all the other princes avoid death but aren't technically eliminated, does that mean no one inherits the throne?
...
"Hehehe… Though your question differs from what you're really implying, your older brother Zhang Lei asked me something similar."
The King chuckled. His jovial demeanor hadn't wavered.
"So, I'll give you the same answer I gave him~ Hui."
Raising his index finger, he waved it gently in the air.
"The only person who survives will be the official heir to the throne. As for how to interpret that... well, that's part of the succession battle itself~ Hui."
Camilla's smile gradually faded. Her eyes narrowed, the gears turning in her mind.
And as the words of the King sank in, she silently began to plan her next move...
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)